How retarded is the ASS system?!?!?
"Is that your BMW running out there?!"
"Huh?!"

I'll explain - got to a site today, put my car in Park and secured it with the handbrake as per usual, so the ASS must've turned the engine off. Well, to the "Ready" state. What with all the fannying about, and taking my iPhone out the Media Cradle and general stuff, I must not have hit the Engine Start Stop button to turn it completely "Off", unbeknown to me at the time since there was complete silence from the car! So I got out, shut the door and locked the car, and even saw the iDrive, etc... turn off so I walked away from it as usual without a thought!

10 minutes later, "Hey! Is that your BMW running out there?!"

Indeed it was! My 328i was running!!!
Yes, this is my fault, but not by much! I should've looked at the needle to see if it was at "Ready" or "Off" but you can't portion too much blame on a guy walking away from a stopped, silenced and locked car! Especially when he saw the electrics go off!
Surely the car would gong when the door is open or throw a strop when you try to lock it!? Obviously not! My old Jag X-Type beeped and flashed the hazards if I tried to lock it with a door slightly ajar, so one would expect the latest offering from BMW to do something not too disimilar, especially as the engine is "engaged"!!
So I'm really mad at the ASS system for not warning me and for RESTARTING MY BLOODY CAR!

So yes, that was frustrating... And not good for my not run-in engine. 800 miles on it. Thankfully it was only 10 minutes because this guy realised it was on, so I'm more relaxed than I otherwise would've been.

My fault, but a very easy mistake to make. What if I was leaving it in the airport carpark for a week or something?!

Any idea as to what woke it up from the stop mode. I expect it had to perceived it was about to move. I would think closing the door could have started it up but I am sure you would have noticed it at that point as the engine makes enough noise. Agree that this shouldn't happen and would think a software fix should solve this problem. I had been wondering about this happening but I don't have my car yet. Thanks for the alert.

Any idea as to what woke it up from the stop mode. I expect it had to perceived it was about to move. I would think closing the door could have started it up but I am sure you would have noticed it at that point as the engine makes enough noise. Agree that this shouldn't happen and would think a software fix should solve this problem. I had been wondering about this happening but I don't have my car yet. Thanks for the alert.

Not a clue! The iDrive was off as I said, including EVERYTHING else so no power drain from the fans or A/C (which was off previously anyway), the DRL's were off, the locks went down, no issues. Yeah haha, I would've definitely heard it crank up again.

Aye, keep that in mind whenever you get out of it! Not a happy bunny...

Not a clue! The iDrive was off as I said, including EVERYTHING else so no power drain from the fans or A/C (which was off previously anyway), the DRL's were off, the locks went down, no issues. Yeah haha, I would've definitely heard it crank up again.

Aye, keep that in mind whenever you get out of it! Not a happy bunny...

Unfortunately as more cars are run by software, we are the testers of it just like new cell phone OS' and new versions of windows, etc. It is almost impossible to test every situation. While this is a pretty large oversight due to the waste of gas and pollutants, I think this deserves recall status. In Maryland, you can get a ticket for leaving your car running unattended.

Unfortunately as more cars are run by software, we are the testers of it just like new cell phone OS' and new versions of windows, etc. It is almost impossible to test every situation. While this is a pretty large oversight due to the waste of gas and pollutants, I think this deserves recall status. In Maryland, you can get a ticket for leaving your car running unattended.

While I do agree that if the key is not in range there should be something programmed in to realize this fact, your car is fine. 10 minutes of idling isn't going to randomly blow your engine somewhere down the line..

If you're really that unhappy with it, program the ASS default to OFF. Complaining to BMW won't get you anywhere.

..Also, there is an ASS update from the dealer that you may / may not have. If you don't have it, maybe it will address some of your concerns, but I am unsure of the specific functionality from the update.

While I do agree that if the key is not in range there should be something programmed in to realize this fact, your car is fine. 10 minutes of idling isn't going to cause your engine to randomly explode a few years down the line..

If you're really that unhappy with it, program the ASS default to OFF. Complaining to BMW won't get you anywhere.

Yes, 10 minutes should be fine but there is no guarantee this will not happen again, although I will try to be as careful as possible! I was very lucky it was only 10 minutes, this could've easily been hours or days if in a car park which is what annoys me most.
I shouldn't have to hook a laptop up with relevant software and hardware to program my own car to work properly haha, that's why I didn't buy a piece of crap or kit-car (slight exaggeration on that perhaps... ) but it is a good idea and it's good that one could do this.

I had the exact thing happen to me the other day. I went into Blockbuster and when I came out, my car was running. Since it was hot out I am guessing the engine refired due to the cabin temp??? Whatever it was, i though that the A.S.S. was supposed to not restart the car once the door was opened? Weird.

I had the exact thing happen to me the other day. I went into Blockbuster and when I came out, my car was running. Since it was hot out I am guessing the engine refired due to the cabin temp??? Whatever it was, i though that the A.S.S. was supposed to not restart the car once the door was opened? Weird.

Ha really? Possibly the same here, it hit just above 1 Kelvin today so that might've been it! Not good is it!!

as soon as you took off your seatbelt and opened the drivers door the system should have gone into 'safety' mode and from there the only way to start the engine again is to press the 'start/stop button'.
and that's straight from the user manual.
I'd take it to BMW for a check, the bottom line is that it shouldn't have happened.

While I do agree that if the key is not in range there should be something programmed in to realize this fact, your car is fine. 10 minutes of idling isn't going to randomly blow your engine somewhere down the line..

If you're really that unhappy with it, program the ASS default to OFF. Complaining to BMW won't get you anywhere.

..Also, there is an ASS update from the dealer that you may / may not have. If you don't have it, maybe it will address some of your concerns, but I am unsure of the specific functionality from the update.

Has anyone tested the so called "range" of the key? We tested my dads Altima coupe he got out to get the mail and I drove slowly to the end of his street, probably a good 500-600 yards. Then decided to turn around. Car never shut off. So I don't know if that would actually shut off your car unless you were very far away from it.

While I do agree that if the key is not in range there should be something programmed in to realize this fact, your car is fine. 10 minutes of idling isn't going to randomly blow your engine somewhere down the line..

If you're really that unhappy with it, program the ASS default to OFF. Complaining to BMW won't get you anywhere.

..Also, there is an ASS update from the dealer that you may / may not have. If you don't have it, maybe it will address some of your concerns, but I am unsure of the specific functionality from the update.

When did they come out with the update? My car was built 2-23-2012, I have had one ASS failure, but none since. Thanks for the info.

Safety mode
After the engine switches off automatically, it will not start again automatically if any one of the following conditions are met.
▷ The driver's safety belt is unbuckled and the driver's door is open.
▷ The hood was unlocked.
Some indicator lamps light up for varying lengths of time.

Has anyone tested the so called "range" of the key? We tested my dads Altima coupe he got out to get the mail and I drove slowly to the end of his street, probably a good 500-600 yards. Then decided to turn around. Car never shut off. So I don't know if that would actually shut off your car unless you were very far away from it.

I know for a fact that the key being away from the car will NOT shut the car off.

I was more alluding to the point that if the car is ASS-ed off, it should maybe check for the key before restarting. I have no idea if this functionality exists, with/without the update. I don't have my car yet, so I can't test. Else I would.

as soon as you took off your seatbelt and opened the drivers door the system should have gone into 'safety' mode and from there the only way to start the engine again is to press the 'start/stop button'.
and that's straight from the user manual.
I'd take it to BMW for a check, the bottom line is that it shouldn't have happened.

Really?! Wow, can you post or send me that extract?
My events always go:
Stop
P (ASS Shut off)
Handbrake
Seatbelt off
[Engine Start Stop button to turn OFF] - Although I obviously missed that step this time.
Door open
Door close
Lock
Hold lock for mirror fold (although I didn't do it on this occasion)

Has anyone tested the so called "range" of the key? We tested my dads Altima coupe he got out to get the mail and I drove slowly to the end of his street, probably a good 500-600 yards. Then decided to turn around. Car never shut off. So I don't know if that would actually shut off your car unless you were very far away from it.

If the key is even just outside the door, it is out of range for engine start. The key MUST be in the car for engine start. If you then drive away without the key, the car will recognise no key is present and the engine cannot be restarted if it is shut off, but it will not force shut off.

Really?! Wow, can you post or send me that extract?
My events always go:
Stop
P (ASS Shut off)
Handbrake
Seatbelt off
[Engine Start Stop button to turn OFF] - Although I obviously missed that step this time.
Door open
Door close
Lock
Hold lock for mirror fold (although I didn't do it on this occasion)

I always turn the ass off (like clockwork) when I start the car, sequence is
foot on brake
press start button
press ass off button

without even thinking about it. (I'm probably a control freak, so don't like the car doing things I haven't asked it to do)
but I think I will try your sequence out and forget to turn it fully off and see what happens. I will still expect it to go into safety mode as described earlier.